Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Met the previous-previous owner of my boat a few days ago, and learned a few interesting things about my boat.
1) The owner before him (P-P-PO) ran aground in a lake, damaged the rudder seemingly beyond repair, and part of the transom (which has been repaired) by hitting a stump
2) The previous owner apparently also ran aground somewhere on the Hudson, damaging the new rudder! This is probably why it then promptly snapped itself in half when I first had the boat in a strong wind.
What a history these boats have! Would have been good to get some of this information from my PO, but on well. I'm sure he just wanted to sell the thing :)
He did ask me, "Have you managed to get the windows to stop leaking?" Thought that was amusing!
Surveys are costly for boats in our price range but it helped me reject the first C-25 I wanted and led me to Peregrine which has served me well for 20 years.
In line with John's experience, I've often said that a survey will be the best $3-400 you spend on a 25'+ sailboat--especially if it leads you to not buy it! My survey was a very informative tour of the boat with every opportunity to ask questions, and gave me a good, prioritized list of things to attend to. It also turned out my insurer required it, so I was glad it served me in the purchase decision as well. It might seem like a lot for a boat these days worth just a few grand, but the costs of repairing or even disposing of that boat can make the survey look like a bargain.
I'm not trying to rub it in--just laying the case for future shoppers.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
In line with John's experience, I've often said that a survey will be the best $3-400 you spend on a 25'+ sailboat--especially if it leads you to not buy it! My survey was a very informative tour of the boat with every opportunity to ask questions, and gave me a good, prioritized list of things to attend to. It also turned out my insurer required it, so I was glad it served me in the purchase decision as well. It might seem like a lot for a boat these days worth just a few grand, but the costs of repairing or even disposing of that boat can make the survey look like a bargain.
I'm not trying to rub it in--just laying the case for future shoppers.
I agree with Dave! I looked at a LOT of boats before buying mine. Some looked good in the pictures but were dogs in person.
Once I found the boat I've now owned for 10-1/2 years I had a survey done. The surveyor didn't find anything I hadn't already found but it helped me negotiate a lower price.
Plus it made me more at peace with my purchase knowing it was a solid boat.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.